ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN COOPERATION TO KEEP DEVELOPING IRRESPECTIVE OF POLITICAL LEADERSHIP CHANGE

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
10/09/2007 16:19

YEREVAN, September 10. /ARKA/. Armenian-Russian relations will continue
to develop irrespective of the change of the political leadership, RA
Ambassador to Russia Armen Smbatian reported the "Nezavisimaya Gazeta".

"I am sure that irrespective of the fact who is Armenia’s President,
Armenian-Russian cooperation will keep developing, as the matter
is friendship between both nations, multilayer intergovernmental
relations, common national interests, which we introduce to various
international organizations and, if necessary, help each other in
these spheres," Smbatian said.

According to him, RA President Robert Kocharian has a great investment
in the development of Armenian-Russian relations. Armenian-Russian
relations are on a good political basis, and it is necessary to
maintain its continuity, the Ambassador said.

Smbatian pointed out that both countries should pay more attention
to economic relations, as cultural, scientific and other relations
may be in danger without sustainable economic relations.

As regard the statements of certain opposition leaders that Armenia
and Russia are in vassal relations, Smbatian believes one should treat
such criticism indulgently. "These are statements are opposition
leaders’ opinions which do not correspond to the reality. I state
this as ambassador who knows perfectly well what Armenia is and what
interests it may have in Russia and vice versa," he said.

The Ambassador sees no problems in the sphere of Russian-Armenian
cooperation. If there are ones, the parties try to solve them together
on the level of foreign ministers, ambassadors and businessmen.

"For instance, the Armenian party took the increase of gas prices as an
unconstructive step. I have made repeated explanations on the issue,
believing Russia made such a decision basing on its own pragmatic and
economic interests. The problem was solved and a mutually beneficial
document was signed in the gas sphere," Smbatian said.